Not even the icy wind sweeping across Plaça Cort this morning could cool the excitement. Children and parents packed the square, waiting for the Drac de na Coca to awaken from his long winter sleep. And awaken he did. Gegants and Capgrossos welcomed Palma’s beloved dragon back, with stories, dance, and the rousing rhythm of the batucadas. It’s the beginning of Sant Sebastià 2026, the winter festival in honor of the patron saint, held every January. Filling the city with music, bonfires, parades, and time-honored traditions for two vibrant weeks.
Wake-Up Call
Right from day one, Palma’s streets and squares push aside post-holiday quiet as the Pregonet, the official opening of Sant Sebastià, brings joyful noise to the heart of the city. All under the watchful eye of the Drac de na Coca. It’s this blend of folklore, rhythm and community involvement that sets the atmosphere. Making old town Palma feel like one big party.
Later on, when it’s getting dark, the citizens of Palma celebrate Día de la Pesta (Day of the Plague), another key moment in the cultural program. And a tribute to Palma’s resistance to the epidemic that ravaged Mallorca in the 16th century. The plague doctors with their scary beaked masks, dancing rats and again roaring batucadas roam the streets around Plaça Cort.
Keep the Party Alive
The very next day, January 11, the festivities shift toward families, again, with the Sant Sebastià Petit program. Designed for kids and the young at heart, this day includes creative workshops, street theatre, and activities that make Palma’s public spaces feel like a creative playground.
As January unfolds, music pulses through the city with afternoon sessions (tardeos) and live concerts across diverse venues. On January 16, the Crystal Fighters headline on Plaça d’Espanya. Bringing international flair alongside Mallorcan talent like Pitxorines and Guaranà, while local DJs and bands keep the party alive throughout the weekend.
Bonfires, Barbecues and Beats
January 19 is another highlight of Sant Sebastià 2026, when the Drac de na Coca lights the fire on Plaça Major. The beloved Revetla transforms Palma into a labyrinth of bonfires, communal barbecues and outdoor concerts, where everyone feels welcome.
Concerts are held on various stages on Plaça d’Espanya, Plaça Major, Plaça de las Tortugas, and Plaça de Cort, with music ranging from electro-Latino to rock, pop, and folk. Thousands of people flock from the concerts to the crowded streets and places where the warmth of the bonfires creates a cozy yet electrifying atmosphere.
Culture, Sports and Correfoc
January 20 will be a day of cycling and culture. With the presentation of the Premis Ciutat de Palma awards celebrating achievements across the community. Then, on January 24, Palma welcomes the joyful Trobada de Gegants. A gathering of the traditional large figures and rhythmic pageantry that fills the city with color and motion.
Finally, it’s time for the Correfoc. On January 25, the fire run doesn’t just pass through Palma, it claims it. Fire, drums and smoke take over the streets as the dimonis move forward and the crowd follows, not watching but participating. With the Correfoc, Sant Sebastià 2026 closes the way it always should: burning, loud and shared. 
Find the complete program of this year’s Sant Sebastià festivities in Palma, right here. And read more about the Drac de na Coca, here.
